2 charged with 'beating' of 12-year-old boy in Venice

A Venice man and woman were charged with hitting a 12-year-old boy with a belt and spoon on the legs, arm, butt, back and torso, according to Madison County charging documents.

Demetrius Fuller, 25, and Malissa Phillips, 29, were charged Thursday with aggravated battery to a child in connection to the alleged abuse.

In cases like this, the difference between a spanking punishment and a level of harm that could lead to criminal charges comes down to the severity of the hits and the way it was done, said Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons.

"When you use an object, a belt and especially in this case, a kitchen spoon, that certainly is something that is of great concern, because these objects have the ability to cause injuries," Gibbons said.

Read Next

A Southern Illinois man was arrested by police and faces first degree murder charges and is accused of shooting and killing an East St. Louis Senior High School student at the Fifth and Missouri Metro stop.